Mobile Ministry Magazine

I sometimes have a hard time convincing people that mobile technology is profitable to ministry. Don't get me wrong, there are some who hear, but many just do not understand. Part of that is simply cultural; not every region of the world recieves mobile technology in the same way.

For example, the US is a highly email(ed) culture. Mobile technology for US Americans verters around email and voice. This is not a bad thing. It is just the way that the technology has evolved over here.

On the other hand, places such as the UK and Korea are HUGE into text messaging and multimedia messaging. In those places, the perosnal context of communication is very applicable to those applications that allow for people to keep in touch via media and text portals. Again, not a bad thing, but noticable.

When mobile ministry is looked at for a specific region, these types of considerations must be taken. If you are in an area where having a mobile phone is a sign of luxury, then chances are that any ministry activities using the mobile phone would be quite unfruitful. And on the other side of that, if you go to a place to minister where there is nothing but the use of mobile tech, then coming in with a pen and paper will not just make you antiquated, but also show forth a sign of being out of touch with the (perceived) needs of the community. You have to know the rules of the culture so to speak, and then walk in such a way that you are both innovative and pushing that envelope, as well as meeting people right where they are.

Granted, there are other factors that come into play when it comes to ministry in different world and area regions, however, it's when we play according to the rules that we are able to take something simple (for example, a BlackBerry), and turn it into something possibly groundbreaking.